B.C., federal governments announce $106.5 million investment for new fisheries fund

British Columbia and the federal governments have jointly announced a $106.5 million investment over five years to restore salmon habitat and bolster the province's fish and seafood sectors. This funding, allocated through the British Columbia Fisheries Fund, aims to conserve and recover wild Pacific salmon, which are integral to both the economy and culture of coastal and Indigenous communities.

Building upon the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund launched in 2019, the new fund seeks innovative solutions, new products, or technologies, and improved processes to enhance productivity and reduce trade barriers. Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson and B.C.'s Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Randene Neill, emphasized the importance of collaboration between harvesters and scientists to adapt to changing water conditions and support the growth of B.C. seafood products.

Sixty percent of the funding will be provided by the federal government, while the remaining 40 percent will come from British Columbia.